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A Star That Still Shines

The Czech gymnast Věra Čáslavská is one of those remarkable individuals who may be rightly viewed as a giant in the world of sports. In fact, her fame around the world has spread well beyond the boundaries of sport. She remains an important figure, visited by both domestic and foreign representatives of governments and international organizations. Her name has remained in the memories and thoughts of people long after her last Olympic victory in 1968 - even among those not particularly interested in sports. She has become a sports star of the first category not only because of her gymnastics championships but also because of her personal and moral values. She did not win an Olympic gold medal simply because of her indisputable talent for the sport, but also because she took this raw talent and developed it to the levels of an Olympic champion.

Čáslavská was aided in this task by new approaches to training as well as quality coaching under the direction of Jaroslava Matlochová and Vladimír Prokop, the 1955 European champion in the floor exercise. Eva Bosáková, the 1960 Olympic gold medalist on the balance beam, also played a critical role in Čáslavská's development. It was at the 1958 World Championships in Moscow that Čáslavská first competed along side Bosáková. Even though Čáslavská did not win any individual medals, she became the favorite of the knowledgeable audience. Following her floor exercise routine, they called out "Věra, Věra, Věra." This would be just the first time Čáslavská shone as a sporting star. Four years later at the 1962 World Championships in Prague, Věra Čáslavská would win her first gold medal, thus beginning her amazing rise to the peaks of Olympic glory.

Her first Olympic heroics came at the Tokyo Olympic Games of 1964. In her book The Road to Olympus (1972), Čáslavská recounts simply the wonderful conditions that the Japanese organizers had created for the Czechoslovak gymnasts: "I felt at home in Tokyo." Every day, Japanese radio and television would broadcast extensive news reports from the Olympic Games that would always include at least one shot of this golden-haired gymnast from Czechoslovakia. They presented information about what kinds of flowers she liked, what colors she liked to wear and if she was engaged to be married. Following her victories in Tokyo, Čáslavská took part in a tour of Japan. She became the most admired Olympic champion in the Land of the Rising Sun - not only because of her amazing displays of gymnastic talent but also because of her feminine beauty and charm. One elderly Japanese gentleman presented her with a Samurai sword. This is an honor that in Japan is an expression of admiration for an exceptional nature and a fighting spirit. Čáslavská was enchanted by Japan and Japan was enchanted by Čáslavská: "Sayonara Tokyo."

Věra Čáslavská's many competitors were unable to defeat her at the 1965 European Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria (she won the gold medal in each discipline) and again failed at the 1966 at the World Championships in Dortmund, Germany. The Olympic victor once again won the all-around gold medal and the Czechoslovak team won the team competition. At the following European Championships in 1967 in Amsterdam, nothing could threaten the supreme status of Věra Čáslavská - she swept to victory in all the disciplines.

Her sporting fame began to take on larger proportions. The famed gymnast was not afraid to speak out in various forums with criticisms of the governing political regime. In early 1968, she enthusiastically joined the "reform process" led by Alexander Dubček, which later became known as the Prague Spring of 1968. This process was brought to an end with the violent occupation of Czechoslovakia by five armies of the Warsaw Pact on August 21, 1968. It is difficult today to imagine the emotional state of Czechoslovak athletes as they prepared for the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, which began only a week after the occupation of our country. Věra took part in the gymnastic competition as the proud citizen of a subjugated nation. She desperately wanted to show with her gymnastic achievements that despite the military subjugation, this small country would not be defeated on the sporting field. Whenever she approached a piece of gymnastic equipment, the attention of the entire audience and all television cameras was focused on her. Her unaffected and charming behavior, her ability to connect with the general public and the glow of joy that emanated from her seemingly effortless routines took this already five-time Olympic champion to the heights of Olympus once again - to her second Olympic triumph.

Her sporting career came to a glorious close in Mexico City. Before she returned to her homeland, Věra Čáslavská married Josef Odložil, who had won a silver medal in the 1500 meters at the Tokyo Olympic Games. More than 100,000 people attended the wedding service and wished the newlyweds all the best. This wish would however remain unfulfilled for a long time to come. Čáslavská was welcomed upon her return to Czechoslovakia by humiliated representatives of a country that was occupied by more than half a million foreign soldiers. Fame and recognition were not all that awaited her at home. This seven-time Olympic champion was fired from her job for the stands that she had taken during the course of 1968 and for signing a call for social change in Czechoslovakia. She was denied permission to travel abroad despite receiving numerous invitations to do so. Among the disappointed was Japan. She managed, despite many hassles and much harassment, to finish her studies at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport of Charles University. The newly-installed leadership of Czechoslovak sports rejected her offer to coach. They were fearful of Čáslavská's "negative" ideological impact on the education of young gymnasts.

Věra gave birth to two children, a daughter Radka in 1969 and a son Martin in 1974. Following the calming down of public opinion, Čáslavská was offered the opportunity to coach abroad. She accepted the offer of the Mexican gymnastics organization and returned with her husband Josef to the site of her triumphs. When she returned to Czechoslovakia, where the political situation had calmed down, she was allowed to coach gymnasts in Prague. She took part in preparing the Czechoslovak gymnastics team for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where they were hopeful of winning some medals - but then came the boycott order from Moscow.

This quickened the political maturation of the famed gymnast. After the revolutionary changes of 1989, her unwavering stands and untarnished moral standing resulted in her being nominated to various functions, including the presidency of Czechoslovakia. In the end, Čáslavská was elected president of the Czechoslovak Olympic Committee. She also became an advisor to President Václav Havel, with whom she worked for a number of years. Her promising return to social prominence at home and abroad was ended by family tragedy. As a result, she resigned from all her functions and withdrew from public life. Many people today would however welcome her return.
During her eleven-year sporting career, Věra Čáslavská won 140 medals, including seven Olympic gold medals and fifteen European and World titles. She was the Olympic all-around gymnastic champion in both 1964 and 1968.

Věra Čáslavská is not simply an exceptional athlete. She has remained a person that has always prized and promoted the moral values of human existence. For this reason her star continues to shine brightly even today.

Jiří Kubička

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